Newt Gingrich pledged to stay in the race for the Republican presidential nod, even as Rick Santorum suspended his campaign on Tuesday.

I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice, Gingrich said in a statement released after Santorums announcement in Gettysburg, Pa.

Gingrich, whose campaign is carrying roughly $4.5 million in debt, immediately began trying to use Santorums exit as a fundraising vehicle, adding a banner to the front of his website declaring him the last conservative standing.

I humbly ask Senator Santorums supporters to visit Newt.org to review my conservative record and join us as we bring these values to Tampa, Gingrich said in his statement. We know well that only a conservative can protect life, defend the Constitution, restore jobs and growth and return to a balanced budget.

But in recent weeks, Gingrich was forced to dramatically scale back his campaign operations and slash much of his staff after winning just two primaries since the GOP race began  his former home state of Georgia and neighboring South Carolina.

Santorum, in contrast, won 11 primary states and was clearly seen as the leading conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, who has now all but officially clinched the GOP nod.

But Gingrich continues to doggedly pursue his long-shot campaign  he was in North Carolina on Tuesday while his wife, Callista, held events in New York  and has told reporters that he sees no reason to drop out while he can still push Romney to the right and influence the partys platform at this summers convention.

Its not even clear that the former House speaker will be eligible for nomination at the convention; GOP rules require winning five primaries. Gingrich has dismissed the rule as a technicality and an attempt by the establishment to ensure Romneys nomination.

Even before Santorums exit, Herman Cain, the former presidential candidate and Gingrich supporter, signaled on Tuesday he was ready to fall in line behind Romney.

I have always said I will support whoever the nominee is and it looks like Mitt Romneys going to be that nominee, and we do need to get behind him, Cain said Tuesday morning on Fox News. I remind people all the time, Keep your eye on the mission. And the mission is to get control of the Senate, maintain control of the House and defeat Barack Obama. That means get behind the nominee so yes, Im ready to get behind the nominee.

Hard to do given how hateful many Newt supporters have been towards Santorum

What's "hard to do" -- voting for Newt because a few of his supporters on an internet forum wrote things you didn't like? How many people? Ten? As many as ten? Would you destroy the city for ten people? (with apologies to Abraham who made a similar argument)

LRJ: "Santorum? Come on. He dropped out to preserve his own political future."

Kosciusko51: That's a significant speculation on your part

That's all anyone has. I listened to Santorum's 14.25-minute speech yesterday. Not a single reason given for getting out of the race where he was a significant second-place runner and the certain front-runner if Romney demonstrates any fatal flaws in the next three months. His campaign is not seriously in debt, we are told. Rasmussen polls had him ahead in PA.

What did he talk about for fourteen and a quarter minutes? Family, the sweater vest craze, family, a cute video his fans cobbled together, family, some kind of plant, family, parents, children, family, parents, children, his wonderful supporters, family, and "continuing the fight" which is what they all say when they stop the fighting.

LibsRJerks offered the most plausible and innocuous speculation. I'm saving my collection of theories until such time as Santorum publicly endorses either Romney or Gingrich. But there is no pixie dust in my eyes for politicians.

Really? The "most plausible and innocuous speculation" would be that his daughter is doing worse, and that family comes first for him, and that the combine stress has taken a toll on him. Yes, Rick is a politician, but he is also a father. Maybe we should cut him some slack, instead of continuing to besmirch his character.

63
posted on 04/11/2012 10:10:54 AM PDT
by kosciusko51
(Enough of "Who is John Galt?" Who is Patrick Henry?)

“With Senator Santorum suspending his campaign yesterday, the presidential race has now changed dramatically to a two-man race.

Rather than hoping we can force a moderate to occasionally pursue conservative policies, we now have a real opportunity to rally around a conservative candidate who can implement a bold conservative agenda.

As the last conservative standing, Newt urgently needs your help to coalesce conservatives around his bold vision of American energy independence, balanced budgets, and returning power to the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Despite attempts from the Washington establishment to crown Governor Romney and prematurely end the primary process, Newt is committed to staying in this race all the way to the Convention in Tampa.

My greatest fear is that if Governor Romney wins the Republican nomination he will immediately run to the center against President Obama and ignore the conservative values that you and I hold dear.

Even worse, if Romney and his team of etch-a-sketch consultants won the presidency, I’m afraid they would govern as a moderate, hurting the conservative movement in the long run.

I worked with Newt in the Spring of 1994 to help draft the Contract With America to give conservatives a positive governing plan. Governor Romney has not provided such a plan, but Newt Gingrich has.

Newt’s candidacy is essential to ensure that conservative values are at the heart of the Fall campaign and the next Administration.

We know the odds are great, but Newt has overcome the odds time after time during this campaign and his entire career. With your support, he can do it again.

Please take a stand for conservative values by making a donation to Newt’s campaign today.

Thank you.”

P.S. Yesterday was one of the campaign’s best fundraising days in a long time, which shows conservatives still want a candidate fighting on their behalf. Help us build on that momentum by contributing whatever you can to Newt’s campaign of bold breakthroughs to change Washington.

Yesterday was one of the campaigns best fundraising days in a long time, which shows conservatives still want a candidate fighting on their behalf. Help us build on that momentum by contributing whatever you can to Newts campaign of bold breakthroughs to change Washington.

Done...and glad to do so...let's hope Newt rises as Santorum's people not settle for Romney nor Paul but giving more than consideration that we do have a conservative in this race more than able and willing to take on Romney and win...and then take on Obama and win.!!!!!!! Go Newt Go!!!!!

I've been all in for Newt Gingrich since the beginning, and I'm choosing to believe that Rick Santorum dropped out because precious Bella's health is more precarious than we know, and NOT as the media and nastier reporters would have us believe that Santorum feared he would lose his home state of PA, so please cut the crap that Newt Gingrich had any influence on his decision.

The day before Santorum's announcement, the evil Romney pulled his vicious attack ads. That should had given you all and everyone else the first major clue that something was distressfully wrong within the Santorum family.

Instead of looking for a scape goat, I suggest everyone pray extra mightily for little Bella and Rick's family.

I know you want to project onto him the noblest possible motive for suspending his campaign, but he could easily have said so if his daughter’s health is the issue. He didn’t. In fact he said she was released from the hospital and is doing fine.

Moreover, she had health issues when he decided to enter the race — after, I am sure, much prayer and a sense that God wanted him to run. (He had 14 minutes, but he also didn’t say he now thinks God wants him to suspend his campaign.)

I don’t recall besmirching his character. I will however have additional comments if he endorses Romney.

Many Santorum supporters, I have noticed, are very sensitive. It may be a sign of insecurity. Or it may be something else.

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